Department for Transport

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how his Department monitors and enforces International Maritime Organisation regulation on air quality in cities.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for enforcing the UK legislation regulating pollutant emissions from ships, which implements Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (commonly known as the MARPOL Convention) that has been adopted by the International Maritime Organization. The Agency is not however, responsible for monitoring or enforcing air quality standards in our cities.   Ship emissions are estimated as part of the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI).　 The inventory provides estimates of annual emissions from shipping from a range of sources, including domestic coastal shipping, inland waterways, UK fishing (both in UK waters and waters outside the UK), naval shipping, journeys between the UK and overseas territories.A detailed description of the methodology used to produce estimates of UK shipping emissions can be found in the UK Informative Inventory Report (1990 to 2013), p.138 (http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat07/1508131403_GB_IIR_2015_Final_v20.1_resubmission.pdf).

Taxis: Guide Dogs

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce licensing conditions for taxi drivers to ensure they will carry guide dogs and other assistance dogs.

Andrew Jones: The Equality Act 2010 includes a legal requirement for all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to carry assistance dogs and not to charge more for doing so. Local licensing authorities are able to take appropriate action in the event that licensed drivers fail to comply with this duty.

Trolleybuses

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the Inquiry Inspector's report following the public inquiry into the New Generation Trolleybus scheme; and when he plans to make a further announcement on that scheme.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Inspector who held an inquiry into this scheme between April and October last year submitted an extensive report to the Department on 29 July 2015. We are giving the report careful consideration and will publish it with a fully reasoned decision letter as soon as reasonably possible. Given the complex issues involved in this case it is too early to predict when that will be.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the implications for his Department's policies of the increase in the number of privately owned drones and its effects on safety for civil aviation.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government recognises that this emerging technology has great opportunities for the UK. However the Government is aware that there have been a few incidents that have caused some concerns to other commercial air traffic.   The Civil Aviation Authority has recently launched a publicity campaign called "You have control. Be safe! Be legal!’’ which is aimed at raising awareness of the general public, at the point of purchase, about their responsibilities as the unmanned aircraft operator.   In addition to this a cross-government working group is currently engaged in a piece of work that is looking at the risks posed by drones to commercial civil aviation. The results of this work will inform our understanding of the scale of the problem and what steps need to be taken to mitigate these risks.

Transport: North of England

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with (a) Transport for London and (b) transport authorities in other countries on establishing Transport for the North.

Andrew Jones: Transport for the North (TfN) was formed out of the One North initiative.　TfN was established by the cities in the north for the people of the north to work in partnership with Government. Ministers and Officials have held discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including those from outside of the UK, on the role of TfN.　However, it is not for Government to impose its will on the region, but to work with the region to drive economic growth.

A303: Bypasses

Marcus Fysh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to improve the safety of the Ilminster bypass on the A303; and if he will direct the Highways Agency to revisit this matter in the light of recent serious accidents on that road.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is currently designing safety schemes to improve safety at both roundabouts at either end of the Ilminster By-pass. The Road Investment Strategy also announced, in addition to the schemes on the A303 to be taken forward in the period up to 2020/21, the Government’s intention to up-grade the A303 in subsequent road investment periods, post-2020, which will include the up-grade of the Ilminster By-pass to a dual carriageway, which will aim to further improve safety.   I do however offer my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the people who lost their lives or were seriously injured in the collisions on the Ilminster By-pass in July 2015.   These collisions are still under Police investigation and until concluded it would be inappropriate to speculate on causes and subsequent improvements to that stretch of road. It is important to base decisions on evidence and Highways England will work with partner agencies to further reduce casualties on our roads in light of the evidence as it emerges.

National Air Traffic Services

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an official in his Department has examined the feasibility of (a) partially and (b) wholly selling his Department's share of National Air Traffic Service Holdings.

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department policy is on retaining the Government's stake in National Air Traffic Service Holdings; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In 2012, following a call for evidence to explore the options for the future of the government’s 49% shareholding in NATS, the government announced that it planned to retain its share in NATS Holdings. However, as with all government held assets, the government continues to keep ownership options under review.

Department for Transport: Secondment

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff from his Department formerly seconded to the Airports Commission have returned to his Department to work on aviation policy.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department’s two aviation policy directorates comprise 132 members of staff. Of the 24 members of staff that were seconded from the Department for Transport to work for the Airports Commission, 12 have returned to work at the Department.　The team working on airport capacity issues however has been structured to ensure that no-one returning from the Airports Commission Secretariat works in the team that is specifically tasked with reviewing the Airports Commission’s Final Report.

M56: Accidents

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2015 to Question 3171, how many reported personal injury road accidents of each severity there were on the M56 between junctions 12 and 14 in 2014.

Andrew Jones: The number of reported personal injury road accidents by severity on M56 between junctions 12 and 14 for 2014 is given in the following table: Number of reported personal injury accidents on M56 between junctions 12 - 14: 2014Number of accidentsYear FatalSeriousSlightTotal2014 311620

Railways: Electrification

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Network Rail resources have been transferred since 25 June 2015 to the (a) Great Western electrification project and (b) North West electrification project from the (i) Midland Main Line electrification project and (ii) North Transpennine electrification project.

Claire Perry: Since 25 June 2015, there has been additional director-level focus on the Great Western Electrification project and a restructuring to focus on delivery of this priority project.   There has also been some re-allocation of a small number of Network Rail resources to the North West Electrification project. Other resources exist within the supply chain.   Other resources from the Midland Main Line electrification project and the North Trans-Pennine Electrification project have been re-allocated to other projects suited to their skills and location.

Railways: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make the provision of turn-up-and-go facilities to be a requirement in the next award of franchises for (a) South Eastern railways and (b) South Western railways.

Claire Perry: All licensed train operators are required to establish and comply with a Disabled Person’s Protection Policy which sets out the level of services and facilities available to disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, how to arrange staff assistance, and how to get help if things do go wrong.   Train operators and Network Rail recently committed to a minimum six month formal trial of Turn Up and Go in London at a limited number of stations, which launched on 11th May 2015. Once complete, we look forward to the formal assessment of this trial.

Rolling Stock: Standards

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the validity of permitted deviations from the Railway Group Standards when the rolling stock to which those derogations were granted is subsequently repurposed.

Claire Perry: Permitted deviations are solely a matter for the relevant railway industry standards subject committee. Any change of use, which also requires a modification to a vehicle, may be subject to an authorisation under the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011. Under such an authorisation, the national safety authority may wish to take any relevant deviations into account.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he was informed by officials in his Department in March 2015 that Network Rail had advised his Department that decisions might be required in subsequent months regarding the deferral of certain projects.

Claire Perry: As the Secretary of State told the Transport Select Committee on 20 July 2015, he received advice from officials on this matter on 15 June 2015.

Department for Transport: Departmental Responsibilities

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2015 to Question 3926, for what reason the Ministerial transparency data series has not been updated in accordance with the timescale given in that Answer.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Information is currently being updated and will be published in due course. I apologise for the delay.

Speed Limits

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a default 20 mph speed limit in built-up areas.

Andrew Jones: Local authorities are best placed to determine the speed limits for their areas, based on local knowledge and the views of the community.   Compliance with the existing 30 mph limit has improved significantly over recent years, but 45% of drivers still exceeded the limit in 2014. It would not be desirable to introduce a default 20mph limit unless a satisfactory degree of compliance could be achieved.   Evidence from existing areas where there are 20 mph limits in place suggests that average speeds tend to fall to compliant levels only if previous average speeds were already low, around 24 mph.However, the Department has commissioned research into the effectiveness of 20mph limits. The study will cover many aspects including effects on speed, collisions, casualties and modal shift. The research will also consider best practice, road users’ perceptions and effects on the quality of the environment. This is a three year study reporting in 2017.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Telecommunications: National Parks

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the planning system in the delivery of mobile telecommunications infrastructure in National Parks; and how he reached that assessment.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of (a) the planning system, (b) technical factors and (c) operational factors on delays to the expansion of mobile telecommunications coverage in National Parks; and how he reached that assessment.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures his Department will take to protect National Park landscapes where permitted development rights for mobile telecommunications masts are granted.

Brandon Lewis: On 10 July, the Government’s Productivity Plan set out its ambitions for mobile connectivity in England and launched the Call for Evidence. We sought views from communities, mobile network operators, local authorities and others on the ability of the planning system to deliver and support mobile connectivity in all areas of England, including technical and operational factors, which may be limiting deployment. We are considering the evidence submitted and will announce the outcome of the planning review in due course.

Communities and Local Government: Meetings

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what meetings his Department has had with (a) Dart Energy, (b) Igas Energy, (c) Cuadrilla Resources, (d) INEOS Group, (e) Rathlin Energy and (f) Addison Project in the last three years.

James Wharton: My Department meets with a variety of stakeholders, including firms, about a wide range of matters in the course of its daily business. Details of Ministerial meetings and those of the Permanent Secretary with external organisations are published on-line here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dclg-permanent-secretary-data-2014#history

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Oman: Visits Abroad

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to visit Oman in 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I plan to travel to Oman later this year for the eighth UK-Oman Joint Working Group. These biannual meetings with my Omani counterpart are a good opportunity to discuss areas of shared interest in foreign policy and bilateral issues as well as business and investment opportunities.

Brazil: Death

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2015 to Question 5658, what the last date was when his Department contacted the Brazilian authorities on Mr Juwaheer's case.

Mr Hugo Swire: Our officials in Brazil last contacted the Brazilian authorities on this matter at the end of July. We have updated Mr Juwaheer’s family about these discussions.

Brazil: Death

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2015 to Question 5658 on Brazil: beath, after what date without a resolution his Department plans to intervene in that case.

Mr Hugo Swire: We have made known our interest in this case with the Criminal Court, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Prosecutor appointed to represent Mr Juwaheer’s interests. We will remain in contact with them until we see a resolution to this case. However, we cannot interfere in Brazil’s internal affairs, or the ongoing investigation.

Middle East: Refugees

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in (a) Kuwait, (b) Saudi Arabia, (c) the United Arab Emirates and (d) Qatar on their role in the humanitarian effort to assist Syrian refugees.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK actively engages and collaborates with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council on humanitarian and development assistance, and the Gulf States continue to contribute generously to humanitarian support for the Syria crisis. Kuwait is the 3rd largest bilateral donor globally, Saudi Arabia is 5th, the UAE 6th and Qatar 10th (the UK is 2nd). Contributions from these four Gulf states to UN appeals alone amount to over $2.5bn. Kuwait chairs the Top Donor Group and has hosted three pledging conferences. The Gulf States are also contributing through regional charities. For example, the UAE funds the Emirates Jordan camp which houses over 6000 refugees. I also discussed the issue with my Emirate counterpart, Dr Anwar Gargash, during the UK-UAE taskforce which I attended in Abu Dhabi last week.

Northern Ireland Office

Abortion: Northern Ireland

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent representations she has received from charities and lobby groups on the legal status of (a) abortion and (b) abortion medication available for purchase through the internet in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace: Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have received no recent representations from charities and lobby groups on the legal status of (a) abortion and (b) abortion medication available for purchases through the internet in Northern Ireland. The issue of abortion in Northern Ireland is a matter devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Abortion: Northern Ireland

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the legal status of (a) abortion and (b) abortion medication available for purchase through the internet in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace: Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have had no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the legal status of (a) abortion and (b) abortion medication available for purchases through the internet in Northern Ireland. The issue of abortion in Northern Ireland is a matter devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans her Department has to celebrate in Northern Ireland Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest serving British monarch; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace: A number of events will be taking place across Northern Ireland, including a special service in St Anne’s Cathedral to mark the occasion of Her Majesty becoming the longest serving monarch in British history. I congratulate Her Majesty on this remarkable achievement. Throughout her long reign Her Majesty has displayed selfless devotion to duty and commitment to all parts of our United Kingdom, including in Northern Ireland.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Foreign Students: Finance

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that students studying abroad whose studies are interrupted by conflict have access to student finance on returning to the UK.

Joseph Johnson: The amount of funding available to any student is affected by whether they have studied previously. Eligible students who return to England and enter higher education in the UK will therefore have any years of previous study taken into account when an assessment is made for a full-time tuition fee loan for a new course. One additional year of tuition fee loan may be available if the student was forced to withdraw from a previous course for compelling personal reasons. Students may ask that the conflict in their initial country of study be taken into account when they apply to Student Finance England for funding.

Carbon Emissions: France

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of (a) the implications for his policies of the French government's proposed introduction of carbon reporting obligations for institutional investors under Article 48 of the Energy Transition Law and (b) the potential merits of introducing similar legislation in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Government requires quoted companies to report on greenhouse gas emissions for which they are responsible. Quoted companies are also required to report on environmental matters to the extent it is necessary for an understanding of the company’s business within their annual report. In the Summer Budget 2015, the Government announced it will review the business energy efficiency tax landscape and consider approaches to simplify and improve the effectiveness of the regime. The review will consider the Climate Change Levy (CCL), Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme and their interaction with other business energy efficiency policies and regulations. The Government aims to develop a simple, fair and more efficient energy environment for business that minimises administrative burdens and incentivises business to invest, save carbon and grow. A consultation will be launched in autumn 2015. The Government also supports the Carbon Disclosure Project and encourages companies to measure their environmental risk to be better able to manage these risks strategically. The introduction of carbon reporting obligations for institutional investors in France is a matter for the French Government.

Students: Finance

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for how long UK citizens are required to reside in the UK in order to be eligible for student finance.

Joseph Johnson: To be eligible for higher education funding in England, students are required to be settled in the UK, be ordinarily resident in England and have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course. As higher education is a devolved matter in the UK different rules may apply for students ordinarily resident in other parts of the UK.

Overseas Companies Regulations 2009

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps Companies House is taking to enforce the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009; and how many prosecutions have been made under those Regulations to date.

Anna Soubry: Companies House will act upon the receipt of a public complaint about a possible failure to comply with the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 ("the Regulations"). It will carry out an initial investigation and then, if it considers that an offence may have been committed, it will refer the case to the Department’s solicitors to consider whether a prosecution is justified under the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The principal aim is to achieve compliance with the Regulations; therefore, prosecution action is considered a last resort.The Department has made one prosecution under the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009. The offence related to the failure to register the opening of a UK establishment.

Arts: Foundation Courses

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received on proposed changes to the number of student places offered in art and design foundation diplomas.

Joseph Johnson: We have received no representations on this matter. It is for providers to determine how to use their allocations and what provision and places to offer depending on learner and employer demand.

Postgraduate Education

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the reasons are for the distinction, made in the Annexes to his Department's response, published in March 2015, to its consultation on Support for Post-Graduate study, between taught Masters students who are studying via distance learning and part-time taught Masters students for the purposes of the new postgraduate loans scheme proposed for England; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: In March 2015 the Government launched the consultation on ‘Support for Postgraduate Study’ for Masters and Research level study. The consultation included proposals related to the terms and design features of the proposed new postgraduate Master’s loan scheme, including the eligibility of distance learning and part-time Master’s study. The responses to the consultation are currently being analysed and the Department will respond in the autumn.

Apprentices: Taxation

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what consultation took place between his Department and HM Treasury before the Summer Budget 2015 on the introduction of an apprenticeship levy.

Nick Boles: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. A consultation on the Apprenticeships Levy was launched on 21 August 2015 and will close on 2 October 2015. A link to the consultation can be found below: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/apprenticeships-levy-employer-owned-apprenticeships-training

British Business Bank

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of investments made through the British Business Bank to date have been made in each region and nation of the UK.

Anna Soubry: The British Business Bank manages the Government’s business finance programmes (loans and equity investments) for smaller businesses within a single commercially-minded institution. It is not a bank in a conventional sense: it does not invest directly in businesses; instead, it provides funds and guarantees to private sector partners, allowing them to finance smaller businesses. The table below outlines the breakdown of finance facilitated by region and nation.   British Business Bank (BBB) Finance Facilitated by Region/Nation[1]   RegionFinance facilitated by BBB schemes (excluding Start Up Loans Co) as at 30 June 2015 (in £m)Finance facilitated by Start Up Loans programme as at 30 June 2015 (in £m)UK private sector businesses by region by %[2]East Midlands241.88.66%East of England193.69.610%London1689.946.718%North East269.87.33%North West557.72110%South East978.914.416%South West271.212.510%West Midlands413.4138%Yorkshire & Humber499.612.77%Scotland250.75.76%Wales95.26.34%Northern Ireland211.82%Unspecified41.30.60%Total5523.9160.2100%   [1] Start-up Loans data is presented separately due to differences in reporting methodologies. British Business Bank data is stock of finance facilitated and Start Up Loans data is cumulative all-time total drawn lending [2] Proportions for all UK Private sector businesses from the 2014 BIS Business Population estimates

Sixth Form Education

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Reviewing post-16 Education and Training Institutions, published by his Department on 20 July 2015, whether he plans to include (a) free schools for 16 to 19 year olds and (b) university technical colleges in the area reviews of post-16 education and training announced in that document; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles: The Area reviews which were announced on 20 July are primarily focused on further education and sixth form colleges to ensure that there is a high quality and financially resilient set of colleges in each area. However each review will consider a broader analysis of the wider post -16 provision including school and university offer. Under the guidance that we have published on 8 September we have set out the process and expectation that other providers, such as free schools with 16-19 provision and university technical colleges can opt in to the review process.   We expect the analysis about providers not in scope to help in wider deliberations about the area which will be considered by the Regional Schools Commissioner, local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and of course the providers themselves

Minimum Wage

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what value of penalties has been issued to each employer found to be non-compliant with National Minimum Wage legislation since 7 March 2014; and what amount of arrears each such employer owed.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the evidential basis is for allowing employers to self-correct without investigation by HM Revenue and Customs under the National Minimum Wage campaign launched in July 2015.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how HM Revenue and Customs plans to ensure that employers who self-report non-payment of the National Minimum Wage under the campaign launched in July 2015 (a) have paid arrears owed to staff and (b) pay the National Minimum Wage in future.

Nick Boles: Since 7 March 2014, the Government has recovered arrears of almost £5.9 million and issued penalties of almost £1.4m. Where consistent with our naming policy the Government has made public the names of employers who have failed to pay their employees the National Minimum Wage, including the value of the arrears. Details of the latest naming and shaming announcement are available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-minimum-wage-offenders-named-and-shamed   Evidence from other HMRC campaigns suggests those who voluntarily change behaviour can remain compliant for longer. Under the operation of the NMW Campaign launched in July, employers who are in breach of NMW regulations must formally notify HMRC of their participation in the campaign and then complete a full disclosure within two months. Employers must declare details of the arrears to allow HMRC to check and accept that pay has been corrected. HMRC is using a range of information sources to monitor whether the reported self-correction matches the details submitted by the employer. Where appropriate, HMRC will investigate and challenge employer action.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Mckinsey and Company

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many employees of McKinsey are working on his Department's spending review; for how long those employees have been so engaged; what remit those staff have been given; what the cost to the public purse is of such staff; and if he will list which organisations and individuals his Department has consulted during that spending review.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what reviews his Department is conducting with assistance from McKinsey.

Joseph Johnson: There are four pieces of work where McKinsey have been providing assistance to the Department:   operating costs across the Department and Partner Organisations;the cost of goods and services procured from third parties, led by the Crown Commercial Service;a review of the Student Loans Company; andcost drivers in Further Education, jointly with the Department for Education and Her Majesty’s Treasury.   There are no McKinsey employees working directly on the Department’s Spending Review.   The Department has consulted with our key Partner Organisations during the Spending Review process and Her Majesty’s Treasury have undertaken a public consultation on the Spending Review which closed on 4th September.

Research Councils

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received on the future of the Research Councils.

Joseph Johnson: The Government has commissioned Sir Paul Nurse to lead an independent review of the Research Councils. As part of the review, there was an open call for evidence which received over 250 responses. Sir Paul is supported by Advisory and Reference Groups representing a range of academic disciplines, universities, business and HE organisations as well as the Research Councils themselves.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Research

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which (a) HEIs, (b) Research Institutes, (c) Catapult Centres and (d) other research institutions funded by HEFCE are located within the boundaries of two local enterprise partnerships.

Joseph Johnson: This information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Pregnant Women: Discrimination

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many potential tribunal claims for pregnancy-related detriment or dismissal were notified to Acas under the early conciliation scheme in 2014-15; and how many of those claims (i) were settled by conciliation by Acas, (ii) progressed to a tribunal claim and (iii) were not settled by conciliation by Acas but did not progress to a tribunal case.

Joseph Johnson: This information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Health Services

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on changing the wording of Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 from premature mortality to preventable mortality in order to include people aged over 70 within the scope of the goal; and what discussions she has had with (a) interested parties and (b) her counterparts in other countries on this matter.

Justine Greening: The negotiations over the Sustainable Development Goals were concluded at the UN in August after much international discussion and will now be formally adopted at the UN General Assembly later this month. It is necessary that targets are able to draw on appropriate international measures and the language on premature mortality is consistent with the WHO Global Action Plan on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Department for Education

Academies: Cheshire

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost has been of each academy conversion in Cheshire West and Chester since 2002.

Edward Timpson: 14 schools have chosen to convert to academy status in Cheshire West and Chester since 2002. Each of these schools received the standard Academy Converter grant funding.   Details of grant funding for schools converting to academy status can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/convert-to-an-academy-information-for-schools/3-prepare-for-conversion.

Children's Rights: Publicity

Mims Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Government's work to increase awareness of children's human rights.

Edward Timpson: The government is fully committed to children’s rights and to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This can be seen through our work to embed children’s rights in government policy, including: strengthening the remit of the Children’s Commissioner in England through the Children and Families Act 2014, giving them a statutory role to promote and protect children’s rights;consulting children on issues that affect them (Article 12 of the UNCRC), including: a group of disabled children who provide regular ‘user perspective’ on how our SEN reforms; and my regular meetings with children in care and care leavers;revising the citizenship programme of study to make clear that schools should develop pupils’ understanding of democracy, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Last year we submitted the UK’s fifth UNCRC periodic review report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and we will give evidence to that Committee next year.

Ministry of Justice

Euthanasia: Sentencing

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average sentence for the offence of assisted suicide is for each year since 2009.

Andrew Selous: The number of offenders sentenced at all courts, by type of sentence and custodial sentence length band, for the offence of encouraging or assisting suicide or attempted suicide, in England and Wales, for the period 2009 to 2014, is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428943/cjs-outcomes-by-offence-data-tool.xls Select the offence “76 Aiding Suicide” to present information on offenders sentenced at all courts for this offence. The Ministry of Justice does not publish the average custodial sentence length in circumstances where the number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody is too small to give a meaningful average – specifically when there are fewer than five offenders.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of employment tribunal fees on access to justice for women subjected to pregnancy-related detriment or dismissal by an employer; and what steps he plans to take to improve access to justice for such women.

Mr Shailesh Vara: On 11 June we announced the start of the post-implementation review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals. The review will seek to assess the effect fees have had including, so far as possible, any differential impact on people with protected characteristics and the types of case they bring.

Young People: Internet

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review and reform legislation on the prosecution of teenagers engaging in consensual sexual relationships over social media and the internet.

Mike Penning: Our laws to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation are rightly robust and are respected across the world. The Government is always receptive to possible improvements in the law but has no plans to reform or review it with regard to the issues set out in the question.The nature of the material, age and maturity of children involved in such cases or any evidence of coercion or exploitation would be taken into account by the Crown Prosecution Service when deciding whether to prosecute.

Church Commissioners

Churches: Blackburn

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which Church of England churches in the Diocese of Blackburn have been subject to metal theft from roofs in each year since 2012; and which such churches were redundant churches.

Mrs Caroline Spelman: With regards to open churches the number of churches in the Blackburn Diocese which have suffered from metal theft can be found on the chart below. The chart shows the volume of claims have dropped dramatically since 2011 when the Scrap Metal Dealers Act was enforced there are still a small number of persistent gangs operating across the country who continue to damage and vandalise these local community assets. The total number of thefts does not tell the whole story as the cost to the individual parish which has suffered the damage is often considerable to repair, replace and take preventative steps against future thefts.Year Claim Made2011201220132014TotalDicoese of Blackburn73271413127   The Churches listed below have registered 50 thefts in the specified period and are the worst effected, in addition to the list below 49 other churches have registered 77 claims in this period.  Listed 1 Lytham St Cuthbert – Grade 11 2 Colne St Bartholomew – Grade1 3 Chorley St George – Grade 11* 4 Chorley St Peter – Grade 11 5 Charnock Richard Christ Church – Grade 11 6 Cockerham St Michael – Grade 11* 7 Hoole St Michael – Grade 11* 8 Bamber Bridge St Saviour – Grade 11 9 Grimsargh St Michael – Grade 11 10 Walton-le-Dale St Leonard – Grade 11* 11 Church Kirk St James – Grade 11* 12 Accrington St John Grade 11 13 Over Kellet St Cuthbert Grade 11* 14 Leyland St James Grade 11 15 Mellor St Mary Grade II 16 Douglas in Parbold Christ Church Grade 11 17 Kirkham St Michael Grade 11* 18 Woodplumpton St Anne – Grade11* 19 Chorley St Laurence – Grade 11 * 20 Bolton le Sands Holy Trinity – Grade11*   Unlisted 21 Blackburn St Luke with St Philip 22 Layton St Mark 23 Thornton le Fylde Christ Church 24 Fleetwood St Nicholas25 Little Thornton St JohnClosed churches are the responsibility for the care and maintenance of a closed church rests with the Diocesan Board of Finance during the time that a use is being sought following closure. There are currently very few closed churches in the Diocese of Blackburn and we are not aware that there has been lead roof theft from any closed church in Blackburn Diocese in the years from 2012. We are aware of one earlier theft of lead from the roof of a former church building in the Great Harwood area of Accrington. This building has since been demolished and the site sold for residential development.

Churches: Food Banks

Chi Onwurah: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to support communities to the demand for Church-run food banks.

Mrs Caroline Spelman: Following the 'Feeding Britain' report published by the Hon. member for Birkenhead and the Lord Bishop of Truro in December 2014 the Church has continued its monitoring of food bank usage and offering support for those who are in need of the emergency food services. 81% of the 16,000 Church of England parishes are offering support to a food bank with two-thirds involved in running or operating a food bank,76% of churches collect food for a local food bank,39% provide volunteers,29% help to manage one,22% give out vouchers14% offer the use of their premises. More information about the work of the Church of England and our involvement with foodbanks can be found in the following Church Urban Fund report: Church in Actionhttp://www.cuf.org.uk/sites/default/files/PDFs/Research/Church-in-Action-2015_0.pdf

Scotland Office

Royal Bank of Scotland

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to the statement by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury of 10 June 2015, if he will take steps to (a) ensure the Royal Bank of Scotland continues to meet the commitments in its 14 Point Customer Charter and (b) prevent the closure of Royal Bank of Scotland branches in Invergordon, Lochinver and Lybster.

David Mundell: Holding answer received on 16 June 2015



The 14 Point Customer Charter was a commitment set out by RBS following an internal RBS review to improve customer service.The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, a bank must carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. The steps include establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting satisfactory alternative measures in place before a branch is closed.The UK government recognises the concerns for consumers and small businesses that branch closures continue to play in affected communities and wrote to the British Bankers’ Association to set out our expectations around effective compliance with the bank branch closure protocol.The full text of the joint-letter by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury Harriett Baldwin MP and the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise Anna Soubry MP can found at the following:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/452900/Letter-from-Anna-Soubry-and-Harriet-Baldwin-to-British-Bankers-Association-branch-closures.pdf

Department for Work and Pensions

Executives: Unemployment

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements are in place at jobcentres to assist unemployed people formerly in senior management or executive positions in finding equivalent roles.

Priti Patel: All unemployed people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance receive help tailored to individual need. This starts with an initial appointment with a work coach to discuss and agree a Claimant Commitment, which contains some reasonable and achievable job goals, details of the claimant’s availability for work and those steps that, if taken, offer the claimant best prospects of employment. As part of this, the work coach will provide information, advice and guidance on overcoming barriers that might make finding a job more difficult. Beyond the initial appointment, claimants see their work coach regularly to review progress and to see what additional help, if any, is needed.

Housing Benefit: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many people aged 18 to 21 will be affected by changes to housing benefits announced in the Summer Budget 2015 in (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lewisham, (c) London and (d) the UK.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available. The Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of the legislative process.

Social Security Benefits

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number of households in each (a) region, (b) local authority area and (c) parliamentary constituency which will be affected by benefit caps of the levels stipulated in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the potential financial costs to the public purse of changes in the number of households being made homeless as a result of a lower benefit cap.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of children living in households which would be affected by the change to the benefit cap.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many new (a) private rented and (b) social tenancies households will be affected by the proposed benefit cap; and what the average reduction in household income will be for both such households.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of households in Tower Hamlets which will be affected by the proposed single person benefit cap; and what the average reduction in household income will be as a result of this cap.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the potential annual reduction in benefits for residents in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets due to the cap on household benefits.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20 July. A link to the impact assessment is included.http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006.pdf

Industrial Health and Safety: Mothers

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers contacted the Health and Safety Executive for advice on managing new and expectant mothers in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to review the effectiveness of current guidance for employers on managing health and safety for new and expectant mothers at work.

Justin Tomlinson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) started collecting information in March 2015 on the number of employers contacting its advice line about managing health and safety for new and expectant mothers. Data to date indicates that 13 employers have contacted HSE. HSE reviewed and revised its website and other published guidance on managing new and expectant mothers’ health and safety in 2012. A further minor review was carried out in 2014. HSE also wrote to a number of Government departments and agencies, including devolved administrations, to request that their guidance on this topic be revised to ensure consistency. HSE also contributed to advice produced by Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) in 2013 on breastfeeding at work. HSE is currently working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to assess the findings of a major survey on pregnancy and maternity discrimination at work and any implications for the effectiveness of the Executive’s current guidance.

Industrial Health and Safety: Mothers

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new and expectant mothers used the Health and Safety Executive's advice services in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to improve the health and safety of pregnant women's and new mothers' workplaces.

Justin Tomlinson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) started collecting information in March 2015 on the number of new and expectant mothers contacting its advice line. Data since then indicates that 29 new and expectant mothers contacted the advice line on this topic. HSE revised its website and other published guidance on managing health and safety for new and expectant mothers at work in 2012 and in 2014. The revisions were aimed at improving the clarity of information provided for both workers and employers. HSE also contributed to advice produced by Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) in 2013 on breastfeeding at work. HSE is currently working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to assess the findings of a major survey on pregnancy and maternity discrimination at work, and any implications for dutyholders’ management of workplace health and safety for pregnant women and new mothers.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to commission an independent review of his Department's benefit sanctioning procedures.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 June 2015 to Question UIN 170.

Social Security Benefits: Electronic Government

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what problems with the online verification process for (a) all benefit claimants and (b) benefit claimants claiming disability living allowance have been brought to his Department's attention.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP is in the process of transforming how its services are delivered to the public and a major part of this is enabling customers to claim online. Verifying claimant’s identities and the facts of a claim are an important part of making this possible while protecting the public purse from fraudsters. Each of DWP’s services has its own requirements for verifying information and the teams involved are working carefully to ensure that verification can be done in a user-friendly and secure way. To date, no problems with digital verification has been encountered and the services in question are continually being improved.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision for Discretionary Housing Payments he plans to make for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in (a) 2015-16 and (b) each of the next three financial years.

Justin Tomlinson: The allocation for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) in 2015/2016 for Tower Hamlets is £1,565,107. No decisions have been made on allocations to local authorities for the next three financial years, however as announced in the Budget, overall DHP funding will be increased to £800 million over the next five years. The Department considers the allocation of Discretionary Housing Payments each year, based on each local authority’s Housing Benefit expenditure and the local impact of reforms.

Invalid Vehicles

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Motability on eligibility for the Specialised Vehicles Fund.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will increase funding to Motability for the Specialised Vehicles Fund.

Justin Tomlinson: Motability administers the Specialised Vehicles Fund (SVF) on behalf of DWP. Motability provides periodic reports to DWP on their administration of the SVF, including on the issues it considers when prioritising applications for help from the SVF. All Departmental spending is being considered as part of the current Spending Review.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the potential savings to the public purse of imposing a waiting time for school, college or university leavers to claim jobseeker's allowance equivalent to existing measures imposed on EU migrants to the UK.

Priti Patel: The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of personal independence payment claimants have (a) appealed and (b) successfully appealed a negative decision on a personal independence payment application.

Justin Tomlinson: The Ministry of Justice publish statistics on Personal Independence Payment appeals to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal each quarter.   The latest information can be found in Tables 2.6 & 2.7 in the link below:   https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015

Personal Independence Payment

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of a personal independence payment claimant appealing a negative decision on an application.

Justin Tomlinson: The latest figure available for the average cost of an appeal, including PIP appeals, for Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service, who hear appeals, is £214.

Private Rented Housing: Housing Benefit

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of housing benefit on the level of private-sector rents.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of housing benefit on the level of private sector rents. The Local Housing Allowance rates for 2015/16 (effective from April 2015) were published by Rent Officers on 30 January 2015 together with the 30th percentiles of local rents.

Retirement: Females

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide assistance to women who have depended on their husband's national insurance pensions contributions and will consequently suffer financial loss as a result of the increase in their retirement age; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: There is transitional protection in place for women whose ability to build their own State Pension could have been affected because they elected to pay married women’s and widow’s reduced-rate National Insurance contributions on the understanding that they would be able to claim on their husband’s contributions. We will shortly be making the regulations that will enable individuals married to, or in a civil partnership with, a member of the Armed Forces to qualify for National Insurance credits for past periods during which they were accompanying their serving spouse or civil partner on assignments overseas.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the supply of one-bedroom properties for people affected by the under-occupancy penalty (a) on the Isle of Wight and (b) nationwide.

Justin Tomlinson: In the social rented sector there are 1.4 million one-bedroom properties, with approximately 130,000 of these becoming available each year. This equates to a turnover of about 10%.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason his Department invented quotes by non-existent jobseekers in its recent leaflet on benefit sanctions; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The examples in the ESA sanctions factsheet were used for illustrative purposes to help people understand how the benefit system works. They were based on conversations our staff have had with claimants, however they have now been removed to avoid confusion.

Ministry of Defence

USA: Armed Forces

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the US armed forces have been embedded in the UK armed forces in each month since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: The Department does not hold monthly data centrally. There are currently some 135 US Armed Forces personnel serving with UK Armed Forces as foreign Exchange Officers. In addition there are some 35 members of the US Coast Guard serving with the Royal Navy in non-reciprocal exchanges.

Armed Forces Covenant

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the Government monitors feedback on the Armed Forces Community Covenant; and what steps he is taking to strengthen this covenant.

Mark Lancaster: The Secretary of State provides an annual report to Parliament on progress delivering the commitments in the Armed Forces Covenant. Importantly this report includes unedited comments from the three Service Family Federations and key representatives of the Armed Forces charity sector (including the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA). This independent assessment, in conjunction with the engagement of these organisations with the Cross Government Covenant Reference Group (CRG), and my personal engagement with them as the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, provides an essential strand of continuous feedback on all elements of the Covenant, not just the Community Covenant.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is also able to draw on the results of annual continuous attitude surveys, which provide a comprehensive picture of the views of our personnel on key issues, including the Covenant. We also have a network of personnel deployed regionally with responsibility for engaging with Local Authorities on the Covenant.The previous Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), wrote to each local authority in Great Britain underlining the importance of the Community Covenant and inviting them to provide details of the actions they have taken since signing the Community Covenant. This information is being used to support a broader body of work aimed at sharing and promoting best practice across Local Authorities. It builds on the three regional Community Covenant Conferences (Bristol, Manchester and Leicester) run by the MOD earlier in the year, as well as the Community Covenant event hosted at the Local Government Association annual conference in June.Annual funding of £10 million will continue to support all 407 Local Authorities who have signed up to the Community Covenant and made a commitment to support their local Armed Forces community. The Community Covenant remains an essential strand in supporting the Armed Forces and we are committed to its successful implementation. I encourage all colleagues to engage their Local Authority on the actions they are taking to uphold the principles in the Covenant. We all have a shared responsibility for its delivery at a local level.

Army: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether army apprenticeships at Level 2 require students to study towards Level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics.

Mark Lancaster: The Army is compliant with the Government policy requiring apprenticeships to offer learners training to Level 2 English and mathematics where that level has not already been achieved. Soldiers enrolled onto a Level 2 apprenticeship are expected to study towards Level 2 English and mathematics if they have already achieved English and mathematics at Level 1. When a soldier being enrolled on a Level 2 apprenticeship does not have any prior attainment in functional skills, they will be assessed on enrolment and will study English and mathematics at Level 1 or Level 2 depending upon an assessment of their current skill.

Army: Training

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers who enlisted in the army aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and above dropped out before completing Phase Two training in each of the last five financial years.

Mark Lancaster: The number of soldiers enlisting within the last five financial years who have since left the Army on voluntary or compulsory grounds before completion of their Phase Two training is as follows: Regular Soldier Outflow(by year of enlistment)2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Under 1866087056042030018 and over1,4802,0401,6609501,060 Personnel may leave the Army for a number of reasons, including medical and fitness factors, disciplinary reasons, or voluntary withdrawal. Those who enlist under 18 years of age have a statutory right to discharge from the Armed Forces within six months if they feel they are unsuited to Service life. Some personnel who enlisted in the periods in question are still undertaking Phase Two training so totals for later years are not yet complete. The figures in the table exclude Gurkhas, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Military Provost Guard Service, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves. Figures have been rounded to 10.

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2015 to Question 4788, why figures pertaining to the number of army and RAF visits to schools in the academic years from 2012 to 2015 are lower than figures for earlier years provided during the last Parliament by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The overall number of visits is dependant on a range of factors including the approach of the Army and RAF to engaging young people.For the Army in particular, a more focussed approach to engagement through the Army in Education programme may also have contributed to this reduction.In addition, from 2012 to 2015 the RAF operated a system that sought to connect with pupils mainly through social media and marketing. This has changed and the emphasis is now on a return to personal contact and enhanced schools visits through the RAF 'Skills for Life' curriculum-based programme and its Schools Engagement Plan.The Armed Forces only ever visits a school by invitation from a teacher to support school activities.

Army

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time soldiers remained in the army after enlisting (a) under the age of 18 and (b) 18 or above was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Lancaster: Using the latest information available, as at 14 May 2014, the average time that soldiers remained in the Army, who enlisted under the age of 18 is 12 years and two months. Soldiers who enlisted at the age of 18 or above is nine years and three months.

Armed Forces: Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2015 to Question 4788, for what reasons figures pertaining to the number of RAF visits to schools is no longer collected in a disaggregated format for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: From financial year 2015-16 the RAF has been collecting data for visits to schools which will identify individual schools by region and country. Prior to this we could not collect disaggregated figures because the information was not recorded in that format. Although further disaggregation was achievable, to do so would have incurred disproportionate cost.

Libya: Military Aid

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Libyan General Force trainees and National Security Executive officers completed a security questionnaire in Arabic provided by the British Embassy in Libya; whether those questionnaires were analysed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: All General Purpose Force trainees and national support element personnel were required to complete a questionnaire in Arabic as part of the screening process for Libyan trainees coming to the UK. This went beyond the standard visa process. They were analysed by the embassy staff in Libya.

Type 26 Frigates

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the (a) timetable, (b) expected cost and (c) number of vessels expected for the Type 26 Frigate programme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has adopted an incremental approach to financial commitment on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme.The programme entered its Demonstration Phase in April 2015. The programme's timetable, cost and the number of vessels will be determined at the main investment decision.

Ministry of Defence: Consultants

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what policy evaluations have been carried out by external organisations for his Department and its agencies in each financial year since 2010-11; whether the output of those evaluations was published; which organisation carried out each such evaluation; and what the value of each contract to provide that evaluation was.

Michael Fallon: Information on policy evaluations carried out by external organisations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments in respect of carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence has spent the following on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years: Budget YearOffset Costs2012-13£11,6112013-14£17,829.322014-15 Offsets for 2013-14 and 2014-15 were purchased together and cannot be separated. Payments in respect of the carbon offsetting were made to the Carbon Footprint Ltd via the Crown Commercial Service.

Afghanistan: Interpreters

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many locally-employed Afghan interpreters who worked alongside the British Army have (a) applied for relocation to the UK and (b) been resettled in the UK under his Department's resettlement package to date.

Penny Mordaunt: Some 500 local staff are eligible to apply for relocation to the UK under the Ex Gratia Redundancy scheme, of which over 170 local staff are now residing in the UK along with their families. In addition to the redundancy scheme our intimidation policy supports all staff, regardless of role or employment duration, who may be facing security risks as a result of their work with British Forces.The UK is the only nation with a permanent team including trained investigation officers in country to investigate claims of intimidation. These experts thoroughly and professionally investigate all claims of intimidation and have provided support to over 200 former local staff including bespoke security advice and financial support for some 30 relocations within Afghanistan. We have not found an intimidation case where the threat is such that we need to relocate the local staff to the UK to make them safe. This intimidation policy is open-ended, and applies to all local staff regardless of date or duration of service.

Ministry of Defence: Land

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the clean-up costs of land owned by his Department that (a) has been sold in the last year and (b) is earmarked for sale.

Mark Lancaster: There are no clean up costs to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as land is sold as seen. If contamination of MOD owned land is found this is reflected in the sale price.

Ministry of Defence: Land

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the value of commercial land owned by his Department that has been earmarked for sale.

Mark Lancaster: The valuation of commercial land owned by the Ministry of Defence cannot be released as to do so would prejudice commercial interests.

Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what help is available (a) nationally and (b) in Gloucestershire for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence is committed to looking after the mental health of our Armed Forces, and our medical services are configured to provide community-based healthcare in line with national best practice. In the UK, we have 16 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs), which are located to be convenient for major centres of military population, and which support the provision of healthcare that is available through Service primary care facilities. Service personnel based in Gloucestershire who require treatment at a DCMH would be most likely to attend the facilities at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire or Tidworth in Wiltshire.The DCMH mental health teams comprise psychiatrists and mental health nurses, with access to clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available, including medication, psychological therapies, and environmental adjustment where appropriate. In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in dedicated psychiatric units through a central contract with an in-patient psychiatric care provider.

Terrorism

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 7 September 2015, how many of the at least six attempted terrorist attacks in the UK within the last 12 months were halted by drone strikes.

Penny Mordaunt: As the Prime Minister stated on 7 September 2015 the police and security services have stopped at least six different attempts to attack the UK in the last 12 months. We cannot comment further on these sensitive operations.

Home Office

British Nationality: Applications

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, published on 11 December 2014, what additional checks on British citizenship applications have been introduced as a result of the findings of that report; and how much time those checks have added to the time taken to consider cases.

James Brokenshire: The additional checks introduced as a result of the findings of the report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration are as follows:• Financial checks• Further verification of referee details• Relevant information held by other government departments• Full review of an applicant’s immigration compliance since arrival in the UKAdditional checks are carried out on cases assessed as having a medium or high likelihood of failing to satisfy the good character requirement, and the checks conducted depend on the specific circumstances of an individual case and any further investigation deemed necessary when the results of checks are received. No information is aggregated in national reporting systems to enable reporting on the time additional checks have added to the time taken to consider cases.

Illegal Immigrants

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants have been apprehended by the Border Force (a) on the English side of the French border at Calais and (b) in Kent in each month of 2015.

James Brokenshire: To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.At the regional juxtaposed ports in Northern France, around 40,000 attempts to cross the Channel illegally in 2014/15 have been prevented by Border Force and its contractors and the French authorities.

Illegal Immigrants: Fixed Penalties

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil penalties levied by the Border Force for the carrying of illegal migrants have been (a) issued and (b) paid by (i) UK citizens and (ii) foreign nationals in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: The number of civil penalties levied by Border Force for the carrying of clandestine illegal entrants in each of the last three years has been : PeriodPenalty Notices issuedPenalties imposed on British drivers and hauliersPenalties imposed on non- UK drivers and hauliers 01/04/12-31/03/20131690122156801/04/13-03/03/2014132494123001/04/14-31/03/201533212333088 These figures do not relate to the number of penalty notices issued/ imposed for incidents/cases which occurred during these three years. This information is from internal management reports.The civil penalties paid by UK citizens and foreign nationals in the same period as a whole is information that is not held in an immediately retrievable format and would have to be recovered manually, incurring disproportionate cost. The total amount of penalties without nationality specified is held. This information is from management information reports. Penalty payments made may not necessarily be for the same year that they were imposed. For example if a penalty was imposed in 2014 and then subject to appeal it might not be paid until much later. PeriodPenalties imposedPenalties received01/04/12 - 31/03/13£890,544£ 484,92201/04/13 – 31/03/14£4,070,471£ 2,293,69901/04/14 – 31/0315£ 6,490,232£ 4,050,139

France: Visits Abroad

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Ministers in her Department have visited the port of Calais since June 2014.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website: http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office

Home Office: Staff

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 August 2015 to Question 4785 on education institutions: licensing, how many staff were working on applications for a Tier 4 sponsor licence in each year since 2008; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Home Office staff consider Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsor licence applications. The number of staff working on applications for a Tier 4 sponsor licence varies according to level of demand and resource requirements. We do not record the number of staff working on Tier 4 casework, specifically.

Overseas Students: Visas

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 August 2015 to Question 4785 on education institutions: licensing, how many applications for a Tier 4 sponsor licence made in each year since 2010 are still undetermined; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: All applications submitted during the year 2010 to 2013 have been concluded. There were 12 applications submitted during 2014, and 52 applications submitted during 2015 which are yet to be determined.

Asylum: Finance

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with other Government departments on the potential effect on social services of proposed reductions in the level of asylum seeker support.

James Brokenshire: Other Government Departments were notified of the changes. It is not believed that they will have any impact on local authority social services. Although the payments provided to destitute asylum seekers with dependants were reduced from 10 August 2015 they remain sufficient to cover essential living needs and free accommodation continues to be provided. The payment level for asylum seekers without dependants was raised to £36.95 (from £36.62) with effect from 6 April 2015.

NHS: Migrant Workers

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate the Government has made of the number of NHS workers affected by the new income requirements for Tier 2 visas.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the likely impact of the changes to Tier 2 visa income requirements for workers from outside the European Economic Area on the NHS.

James Brokenshire: In June, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to provide advice on significantly reducing non-EEA economic migration, including raising minimum salary thresholds to ensure that those entering the UK on Tier 2 (skilled work) visas are not undercutting the resident labour force.The MAC published its interim report on 13 August, which recommended waiting until its final report in December, which will analyse the impacts of Tier 2 salary requirements further and their interaction with other issues we have asked the MAC to consider. The Government is currently considering its response. No decision has yet been made regarding changes to minimum income requirements for Tier 2 (skilled work) visas.In 2012, the Government announced it would implement a minimum pay requirement of £35,000 for Tier 2 migrants applying for settlement from April 2016. An impact assessment for that policy change was published in March 2012 and is available athttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf

Disclosure and Barring Service: Performance Standards

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets she has set for waiting times for the Disclosure and Barring Service; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of such targets.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time taken is to process Disclosure and Barring Service checks in (a) Sheffield and (b) the West Midlands.

Karen Bradley: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) receives around 4 million disclosure applications a year and operates to a target to process 95% of applications within 56 days (8 weeks). Latest figures (relating to July 2015) show that 95.2% of disclosures were issued within this time and the average processing time was 14.3 days. For applications received from individuals living in Sheffield the average processing time was 15.1 days and for individuals living in the West Midlands12.2 days.A key aspect of DBS administration is to ensure that disclosure checks are both accurate and completed in a timely manner. The processing time target provides a clear benchmark for expected performance. DBS targets are reviewed each year to ensure they are appropriate and focused on operational priorities.

Travel Requirements

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have arrived at UK airports without travel documents in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally.

Asylum

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers had been waiting for a decision on whether they can be granted asylum for more than 12 months on the latest date for which data is available.

James Brokenshire: At the end of June 2015, 2,426 asylum applications for main applicants and dependants were pending an initial decision after 12 months.The figure provided is a subset of latest published statistics for applications received for asylum since April 2006, which are published by the Home Office on a monthly and quarterly basis. The latest release, Immigration Statistics April to June 2015, is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2015

Asylum

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants had been granted asylum in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: There were 5,135, 5,736 and 7,266 grants of asylum based on initial decision by main applicants in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.These figures are published in the Immigration Statistics release table as_01 “Asylum applications and initial decisions for main applicants, by country of nationality”.The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on asylum applications and initial decisions within the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Asylum

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have claimed asylum in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: There were 21,843, 23,584 and 25,033 asylum applications from main applicants in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.These figures are published in the Immigration Statistics release table as_01 “Asylum applications and initial decisions for main applicants, by country of nationality”.The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on asylum applications and initial decisions within the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Deportation

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to which countries people have been forcibly removed in the last three years.

James Brokenshire: The table below shows the number of enforced removals from the United Kingdom by destination country for the last three years.Table: Enforced removals by country of destination, 2012 to 2014 Country of destination201220132014Afghanistan518496398Albania473613823Algeria1249060American Samoa000Andorra000Angola242011Anguilla000Antigua and Barbuda652Argentina439Armenia132Aruba000Australia81210Austria566831Azerbaijan702Bahamas, The552Bahrain500Bangladesh881603651Barbados14128Belarus1253Belgium10011069Belize010Benin735Bermuda000Bhutan000Bolivia712724Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba000Bosnia and Herzegovina332Botswana1927Brazil339261131British overseas citizenszzzBrunei000Bulgaria475870Burkina002Burma401Burundi810Cambodia000Cameroon492935Canada273421Cape Verde000Cayman Islands000Central African Republic100Chad000Chile322013China617512423Christmas Island000Cocos (Keeling) Islands000Colombia866434Comoros000Congo785Congo (Democratic Republic)1464Cook Islands000Costa Rica133Croatia7813Cuba000Curacao000Cyprus1489Cyprus (Northern part of)000Czech Republic3658110Denmark161312Djibouti000Dominica355Dominican Republic031East Timor010Ecuador1096Egypt535144El Salvador010Equatorial Guinea010Eritrea010Estonia11912Ethiopia1163Falkland Islands000Faroe Islands000Fiji932Finland974Former Yugoslavia100France286327397French Guiana100French Polynesia000Gabon001Gambia, The725721Georgia32288Germany14412379Ghana229186158Gibraltar000Greece766Greenland000Grenada1033Guadeloupe000Guam000Guatemala941Guinea576Guinea-Bissau100Guyana644Haiti000Heard Island and McDonald Islands000Honduras132Hong Kong131011Hungary274452Iceland001India2,0871,3571,135Indonesia91213Iran27189Iraq559942Ireland214178106Israel1265Italy297366377Ivory Coast12912Jamaica306287284Japan4123Jordan1279Kazakhstan132Kenya504251Kiribati100Korea (North)000Korea (South)101010Kosovo243028Kuwait123Kyrgyzstan422Laos010Latvia10594189Lebanon434Lesotho010Liberia230Libya82418Liechtenstein000Lithuania193324425Luxembourg120Macau323Macedonia133Madagascar101Malawi615122Malaysia14712782Maldives010Mali124Malta685Marshall Islands000Martinique000Mauritania101Mauritius525643Mayotte000Mexico521914Micronesia000Moldova24125Monaco001Mongolia231313Montenegro111Montserrat000Morocco313242Mozambique101Namibia231815Nauru000Nepal174144153Netherlands10511091Netherlands AntilleszzzNew Caledonia000New Zealand773Nicaragua110Niger012Nigeria707698506Niue000Norfolk Island000Northern Mariana Islands000Norway402523Occupied Palestinian Territories010Oman201Other and unknown273275352Pakistan1,8451,8701,768Palau000Panama000Papua New Guinea000Paraguay011Peru485Philippines158115108Pitcairn Islands000Poland372415579Portugal7281100Puerto Rico100Qatar200RefugeezzzReunion000Romania463705829Russia31138Rwanda621Samoa000San Marino000Sao Tome and Principe000Saudi Arabia3711Senegal11129Serbia644Serbia and MontenegrozzzSeychelles343Sierra Leone241112Singapore111Slovakia445895Slovenia394Solomon Islands000Somalia7835South Africa585734South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands000Spain717059Sri Lanka364164185St. Helena000St. Kitts and Nevis341St. Lucia121211St. Maarten (Dutch Part)000St. Martin (French Part)000St. Pierre and Miquelon000St. Vincent and the Grenadines1399StatelesszzzSudan727Sudan (South)000Surinam020Svalbard and Jan Mayen000Swaziland413Sweden364529Switzerland253624Syria100Taiwan745Tajikistan100Tanzania322416Thailand544232Togo341Tokelau000Tonga210Trinidad and Tobago253423Tunisia211131Turkey13312268Turkmenistan1081Turks and Caicos Islands000Tuvalu000Uganda614825Ukraine11279106United Arab Emirates740United States669870Uruguay001Uzbekistan372417Vanuatu000Vatican City000Venezuela6109Vietnam589468296Virgin Islands (British)000Virgin Islands (US)000Wallis and Futuna000Western Sahara000Yemen121Zambia19810Zimbabwe423234Total14,64713,31112,627The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of enforced removals from the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within the Immigration Statistics release. Data relating to enforced removals by destination are available in tables rv_05 to rv_06_q in Immigration Statistics: April – June 2015 on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Immigration: Prosecutions

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted for failing to present a passport to an immigration officer at a UK port of entry in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: The number of individuals convicted under section 2 of the Immigration Act 2004 for failing to present a passport at immigration control at UK ports is as follows:2014/2015 (Apr to Mar) – 31.Before 2014, this information was not recorded centrally.

Immigrants: Employment

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is possible for an individual or prospective employer to appeal or ask for a review of a determination by the Employer Checking Service on an individual's right to work in the UK.

James Brokenshire: There is no appeal process for an Employer Checking Service decision, but if correspondence is received from a representative or employer confirming new/additional information i.e. a new application was not showing on the system at the time the decision was made, then a revised response will be issued directly to the employer.

Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre: Detainees

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each nationality are detained at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre,

James Brokenshire: The table below shows the number of people detained at Dungavel House immigration removal centre by nationality, as at 30 June 2015, the latest date for which figures are available.People in detention by country of nationality as at 30 June 2015Country of nationalityDungavel IRCAfghanistan8Albania6Algeria3Bangladesh30Belgium1China12Egypt1Eritrea2Estonia1Former Yugoslavia1Gambia, The2Ghana3Hong Kong1India37Iran3Iraq3Israel1Kenya2Kuwait1Latvia3Lebanon1Lithuania5Nepal1Nigeria9Pakistan25Poland5Portugal2Romania2Somalia1South Africa1Sudan2Syria2Thailand1Turkey2Uganda1Ukraine1Vietnam8Total190z = Not applicable. IRC = Immigration Removal Centre The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people detained in the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within the Immigration Statistics release. Data relating to people in detention are available in tables dt_11_q to dt_13_q in Immigration Statistics: April – June 2015 on the GOV.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre: Detainees

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each nationality detained at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre have been detained at that centre for more than (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The table below shows the number of people detained at Dungavel House immigration removal centre by nationality, by length of detention, as at 30 June 2015.People in detention as at 30 June 2015, at Dungavel IRC, by length of detention, by nationalityCountry of nationality3 months to less than 6 months6 months to less than 12 months12 months and overAfghanistan100Algeria110Bangladesh300China210Estonia100Hong Kong100India200Kenya010Kuwait001Lebanon010Nigeria120Pakistan110Poland200Uganda100Vietnam410Total2081IRC = Immigration Removal Centre  The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people detained in the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within the Immigration Statistics release. Data relating to people in detention are available in tables dt_11_q to dt_13_q in Immigration Statistics: April – June 2015 on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre: Staff

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are employed at Dungavel detention centre; and what the (a) roles and (b) grades are of those staff.

James Brokenshire: Staff at Dungavel immigration removal centre are employed by both GEO and the Home Office. Details of numbers of staff cannot be provided for security reasons.

Immigrants: Health Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration is made of (a) number of years spent as a UK taxpayer and (b) overall net contribution to the UK economy when applying annual health surcharges to non-European Economic Area spouses of UK citizens.

James Brokenshire: The immigration health surcharge is not calculated on the basis of number of years spent as a UK taxpayer or overall net contribution of individuals to the UK economy. In setting the amount of the charge, the last Government considered the range of health services available without charge to migrants, the valuable contribution migrants make to our country and the need to ensure that the UK remains an attractive destination for global talent.

Immigrants: Health Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what period of time is classed as temporary for the purposes of applying the immigration health surcharge to non-European Economic Area migrants.

James Brokenshire: The immigration health surcharge is paid by non-EEA nationals who apply to come to the UK to work, study or join family for a time-limited period of more than 6 months. It is also paid by non-EEA nationals who are already in the UK and apply to extend their stay for a time-limited period. Some exemptions apply, for example migrants making an application for asylum.

Stop and Account: Driving

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that all police forces record (a) traffic stops of drivers and (b) the ethnicity of drivers so stopped.

Mike Penning: The police have the power to stop a vehicle under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act (1988). The decision to use this power is an operational matter for the police. There are no plans for the Home Office to issue guidance to the police to record the numbers of traffic stops and the ethnicity of drivers.

Asylum: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 24 February 2014, to Question 187811, when she plans to publish the revised guidance relating to procedures for dispersing and accommodating pregnant women who seek asylum in the UK.

James Brokenshire: The revised guidance will be published shortly.

UK Visas and Immigration: Staff

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officers are deployed in the Third Country Unit; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: On 8 September 2015, the headcount of the number of people deployed in the Third Country Unit was 69, with a full time equivalent of 61.06

HM Treasury

Tourism: VAT

Gerald Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the potential number of jobs that would be created by a reduction in VAT for the tourism industry.

Mr David Gauke: HM Treasury has previously considered the economic analysis provided by the tourism sector on the impact a VAT cut would have on economic growth and jobs. The conclusion the Government reached is that a VAT cut for the sector would not produce sufficient economic growth to outweigh the revenue shortfall.

Farms: Tenants

Neil Parish: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet the Tenant Farmers' Association to discuss its proposals for taxation of agricultural land to encourage longer term farm business tenancies.

Mr David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.   Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Revenue and Customs

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2015 to Question 6496, how much of the £800 million referred to in the Answer will be invested in each year of the present Parliament.

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2015 to Question 6496, how much of the £800 million referred to in that Answer is allocated as additional spending in the Budget.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs received an additional £800m of funding at the Summer Budget 2015 for a range of measures to tackle evasion and non-compliance. The additional expenditure which covers both the funding and the investment is set out in line 54 of table 2.1 in Chapter 2 on page 72 of the Summer Budget 2015 document.

Electronic Commerce: VAT

Caroline Lucas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2015 to Question 228461, what steps he is taking to ensure that micro-businesses are not disadvantaged by Directive 2008/8/EC on EU VAT for digital services sold across borders; what progress he has made on getting the best deal for British firms; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs continues to provide proactive help and support for the smallest businesses and meets with small business representative groups regularly to hear their views, along with colleagues from HM Treasury. The European Commission has taken issues raised by the UK government into account in plans for further reform, published in the Commission’s Communication on the Digital Single Market on 6 May. These include a common EU-wide simplification measure (VAT threshold) to help small start-up e-commerce businesses.

Revenue and Customs: Concentrix

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been contacted on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs by Concentrix; and for what purpose they were so contacted.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs’ contract with SYNNEX-Concentrix UK Limited provides additional capacity to review and correct tax credit claims that are potentially based on incorrect information.   Full details of the contractual arrangements can be found at https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85d1b730-5e4e-4be8-ae4c-3ac1f359afc7

Landfill Tax

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to reintroduce the landfill tax escalator.

Damian Hinds: The Budget in March 2015 confirmed that the standard and lower rates of Landfill Tax will increase in line with RPI, rounded to the nearest 5 pence, from April 2016. Further decisions on Landfill Tax rates will be made at Budget 2016.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Billing

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make it her policy to require the provision to energy consumers of a breakdown of their energy consumption compared with similarly sized households or businesses.

Andrea Leadsom: Following DECC research into the optimal display of consumption comparisons for domestic consumers, Energy UK agreed to take forward work on a consumption comparison webtool, as part of a voluntary agreement between Government and energy suppliers. This enables consumers to input their own details and see how their consumption compares to similar households and is available online at: www.comparemyenergy.org.uk/

Environment Protection

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress her Department is making on setting environmental targets for the period beyond 2020.

Andrea Leadsom: Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Government must set the fifth carbon budget (2028-2032) in law by 30 June 2016 taking into consideration the advice from the Committee on Climate Change. This advice is due by the end of 2015.As also set out in the Climate Change Act, we are required to publish our plans and policies for meeting our carbon budgets as soon as practicable after setting a new budget. Our working assumption is that this will be towards the end of 2016 following the setting of the fifth carbon budget.

Nuclear Reactors: Thorium

Matt Warman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the use of thorium as a source of nuclear energy.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC maintains an interest in the global potential of thorium nuclear fuels.In 2012, DECC published an initial comparative assessment of thorium and uranium technologies in nuclear power electricity generation. This is available online at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thorium-and-uranium-fuel-cycles-comparison-by-the-national-nuclear-laboratory.DECC also draws on the expertise of its national laboratories to model nuclear scenarios that include the use of thorium. These are used to inform research and development needs on thorium nuclear fuel cycles. An overview of these are included in the document “Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap: Future Pathways”, published in March 2013, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-energy-research-and-development-roadmap-future-pathways

Energy

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what meetings Ministers or officials of her Department have had with (a) Dart Energy, (b) Igas Energy, (c) Cuadrilla Resources, (d) INEOS Group, (e) Rathlin Energy and (f) Addison Project in the last 12 months.

Andrea Leadsom: The department meets with a variety of stakeholders, including firms, about a wide range of matters in the course of its daily business. Details of meetings between Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Departmental website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/ministers-meeting-with-external-organisations

Cabinet Office

Childbirth: Foreign Nationals

Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many babies born in NHS hospitals have been born to mothers of non-UK citizenship in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Letter to Member - Non Uk Babies
(PDF Document, 88.41 KB)

Kids Company: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much of the grants awarded to Kids Company in 2015 he expects to recover.

Mr Rob Wilson: We are currently in discussions with the Official Receiver regarding retrieving the grant Government recently provided to Kids Company.

Kids Company

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will initiate a public inquiry into the collapse of Kids Company.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish details of his Department's investigations into Kids Company which led to the formulation of Government's view on that charity's long-term viability.

Mr Rob Wilson: Any Ministerial Direction is automatically referred to the National Audit Office, who would be expected to communicate it to the Public Accounts Committee. NAO and PAC will announce their next steps in due course. The Government commissioned an independent review of financial and governance controls at Kids Company in 2014. This is published on gov.uk

Charities: Finance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria a charitable organisation must meet in order to be deemed viable in the long-term and eligible to receive Government funding.

Mr Rob Wilson: The Cabinet Office undertakes a number of specific checks before providing funding to charitable organisations. These include asking for the following information: 1. A copy of their Memorandum and Articles of Association. 2. A copy of their most recent audited accounts, or if a new body they should be asked to provide a recent (not more than three months old) bank statement. 3. If a registered charity they should be asked to complete and return the Charity Commission Internal Financial Controls Checklist 4. Contact details, including e-mail addresses for three referees to provide (preferably previous funders). 5. Full bank details. The Cabinet Office will also issue a grant offer letter accompanied by standard conditions of grant applying. The Cabinet Office routinely checks that any potential grant recipients have complied with the requirements of any previous grants made (if applicable), before any further funds are released.

Kids Company: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office to Cabinet Office Ministers dated 26 June 2015, published 16 July 2015, what conditions were attached to the grant made to Kids Company in April 2015 to encourage that charity to move to a more financially sustainable model; which aspects of that charity's business model the Government considered should become more financial sustainable; and for how long the Government had concerns about this matter.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office to Cabinet Office Ministers dated 26 June 2015, published 16 July 2015, for what reasons his Department had limited confidence that Kids Company could implement changes set out in that charity's restructuring plans.

Mr Rob Wilson: An independent review of financial and governance controls at Kids Company in early 2014 (published on gov.uk) stated that ‘the main financial risk to the organisation is cashflow’ and that ‘without improving the cash position of the charity, it is not possible to build reserves and invest in new activities and locations’. Subsequent funding agreements between Cabinet Office and Kids Company included clear conditions that this position be improved.

Kids Company: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons his Department required the Chief Executive of Kids Company to step down before allocating further funding to that charity.

Mr Rob Wilson: The conditions of the latest grant agreements were intended to encourage Kids Company to move to a more financially sustainable model.

Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received on the effect on campaigning before the 2015 General Election of the provisions of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

John Penrose: The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 30 January 2014. Section 39 of the Act provides for a post-election review of the operation of the regulatory regime governing third parties at the 2015 General Election.Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE was appointed to lead the independent review on 28 January 2015. Work on the review is ongoing. The reviewer must make a written report on the review and provide this to the Minister who must lay a copy of the report before Parliament and publish the report in such a manner as they consider appropriate by November 2016.

Electoral Register: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of people aged 25 and under who appeared on the electoral roll in each of the last 10 years.

John Penrose: Annual data on the proportion of people under 25 registered to vote is not available. The Electoral Commission carries out periodic assessments of the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register. The most recent assessment from July 2014, which includes data on young people, is available at the following link:http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/our-research/electoral-registration-researchMore than 2.3 million young people aged 16 to 24 have applied to register to vote since June 2014 with over 1.9 million of these applications made online.

Electoral Register: Students

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support his Department is providing (a) universities and (b) schools and colleges to ensure students are signed on to the electoral register following the introduction of Individual Voter Registration.

John Penrose: Online registration has made registering to vote quicker and more convenient for the majority of electors, including young people. Ahead of the elections on 7 May, £530,000 was allocated to organisations that work to encourage student electoral registration, including £380,000 to the National Union of Students. Universities and local authorities continue to work closely together through the Student Forum, established by the Cabinet Office. A number of learning resources promoting electoral registration in schools have also been developed in partnership with youth organisations. In addition, there are interesting pilots of the new system to improve student voter registration at Sheffield University and elsewhere, which we are studying carefully.

Voluntary Work: Young People

David Mackintosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made on expanding the National Citizenship Service.

Mr Rob Wilson: By the end of this year more young people than ever will have participated in NCS with over 200,000 benefiting from taking part since its launch in 2011. It is our intention to guara​ntee a place for every young person who wants one over this Parliament.

British Nationals Abroad: Voting Rights

David Mackintosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to allow British citizens to vote in UK elections after they have been out of the country for 15 years.

John Penrose: The Government intends to deliver on the manifesto commitment to scrap the arbitrary 15-year time limit on Britons overseas and will set out its plans in due course.

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Crime

Phil Boswell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of crimes are committed while the offender is under the influence of (a) alcohol and (b) Class A drugs.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Letter to Member - Crimes committed
(PDF Document, 132.06 KB)

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has for tackling digital exclusion over this Parliament; and if he will publish the data that his Department collects on digital exclusion.

Matthew Hancock: Government is committed to making digital inclusion part of wider policy, programmes and digital services. Investment has been made in the national super-fast broadband roll out and funding for a basic digital skills programme that will reach 1 million digitally excluded people over 5 years and £7.4m has also been committed to fund free wifi and internet access for libraries in England. Digital inclusion is tracked through data collected and published by organisations such the ONS (internet use) and BBC/Go ON UK (basic digital skills). We will continue to monitor progress on this basis.

Disclosure of Information

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the principles his Department follows for handling and sharing the data of members of the public.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office processes personal data in accordance with the principles set out in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Cabinet Office’s entry on the Data Protection Register is available on the Information Commissioner’s Office website at https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/DoSearch?reg=163896

Civil Servants: Lost Working Days

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average working days lost per full time equivalent member of staff was as a result of sick days and absences in the Civil Service in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

Matthew Hancock: The Average Working Days Lost (AWDL) per staff year in the Civil Service has fallen from 8.8 days in 2010 to 7.4 days in 2015. This shows we are making good progress in reducing sickness absence in the Civil Service, and we are continuing to monitor and actively manage staff attendance.Year endingAverage Working Days Lost per staff year31st March 20108.831st March 20137.631st March 20147.331st March 20157.4

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Sportsgrounds: Disability

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support he has made available to assist sports stadiums on improving their disabled accessibility.

Tracey Crouch: The Government is committed to ensuring that all spectators have appropriate access to sporting venues and services. Professional sports clubs and sporting venues have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled supporters. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport approved a £1.9mbid from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to deliver the Sports Equality Standard programme. The programme includes support and guidance for improving the physical and cultural accessibility of sporting venues. As part of this programme, the EHRC is actively working with a range of sports to deliver access audits at a number of grounds over the next two years, which will enable clubs to identify areas where access can be improved.

Athletics: Training

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of athletics coaches coaching in England.

Tracey Crouch: Government recognises the critically important role that coaches play in community sport across England. According to the latest available figures provided by England Athletics, the number of athletics coaches coaching in England over the last five years was: YearTotal number of coaches2014 - 201551,0312013 - 201446,8102012 - 201343,1092011- 201236,0772010 - 201132,367

Football: Racial Discrimination

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department plans to have with the Football Association on eliminating racist chanting and abuse by football spectators.

Tracey Crouch: The Football Association’s Inclusion Advisory Board, chaired by Heather Rabbatts, reports to the Sports Minister regarding progress on Football's Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Plan, including actions taken to improve the reporting and analysis of in-stadia offences.  More generally, racist chanting or abuse is a criminal offence under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 and Public Order Act 1986. It is a matter for the police and the courts to determine each case's merits.

Gaming Machines: Wales

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to consider devolving powers relating to fixed odds betting terminals in Wales to the Welsh Assembly, in line with the dissolution of such powers in Scotland.

Tracey Crouch: In line with our commitment in the St David's Day Agreement, the Government is giving careful consideration to whether non-fiscal recommendations from Lord Smith's commission on devolving powers to Scotland, should be implemented for Wales.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Game: Animal Breeding

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons SAC Commercial Ltd were chosen to undertake the study on whether cage-based breeding can meet the needs of game birds.

George Eustice: This project was commissioned through open tender.The SAC proposal was identified as best fitting the policy, scientific and value for money requirements of the research call, based on independent academic and internal peer reviews. The SAC proposal was later revised to reduce the costs and the proposal was peer-reviewed and deemed to be of high quality and represent value for money.

Hunting and Poaching

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) illegal and (b) unethical hunting and poaching internationally.

Rory Stewart: The UK remains committed to playing a leading role in tackling illegal wildlife trade and working with our international partners to bring an end to this scourge.Following on from the UK’s high-level international London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in February 2014, the UK supported the Government of Botswana to host a well-attended follow up Conference in Kasane in March this year and will be providing support to Vietnam to host a third illegal wildlife trade conference, due to take place in 2016. The UK also co-sponsored the first UN resolution on illegal wildlife trade, which passed in July.We have also committed £13 million to support projects around the world to tackle illegal wildlife trade by reducing demand, strengthening law enforcement and developing sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by illegal wildlife trade, primarily through Defra’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. A second round of the Challenge Fund was launched on 5 August.

Domestic Waste: Recycling

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how she plans to apportion proposed fines relating to the target in the EU Waste Framework Directive to recycle 50 per cent of household waste by 2020 between local authorities.

Rory Stewart: The Government has published a policy statement on Part 2 of the Localism Act 2011 concerning the handling of EU infractions and localism. This sets out arrangements for apportioning of fines in relation to infractions of EU legislation, should this be necessary. The UK is working towards the achievement of the EU target to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020 which means the issue of potential fines does not arise.

Domestic Waste: Recycling

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the EU Waste Framework Directive requiring them to recycle 50 per cent of household waste by 2020.

Rory Stewart: The Waste & Resources Action Programme is funded by Government to undertake research and offer advice and support on recycling, including information and guidance to help Local Authorities deliver waste and recycling services. The Government has no plans to issue additional guidance.

Domestic Waste: Recycling

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to implement the target to recycle 50 per cent of household waste by 2020 set in the EU Waste Framework Directive at a waste disposal authority or waste collection authority level.

Rory Stewart: Defra has no plans to set recycling targets at a waste disposal or waste collection authority level. These targets are set at the UK level.

Domestic Waste: Recycling

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of household waste each local authority recycles.

Rory Stewart: The most recent waste from households recycling rate for England in the 12 months to the end of December 2014 was 44.8 per cent.   Information about the percentage of household waste recycled by each Local Authority in England for the financial year 2013/14 was published in November 2014 and can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env18-local-authority-collected-waste-annual-results-tables. This information is also attached. 



LA and Regional Spreadsheet 2013-4
(Excel SpreadSheet, 214.7 KB)

Animals: Transport

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the animal carcass rendering industry on transportation of carcasses to rendering sites.

George Eustice: Defra officials held constructive discussions with the rendering industry on this issue on 26 August 2015.

Department of Health

Hepatitis: Ethnic Groups

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients from the South Asian community are able to benefit fully from new treatments made available through NHS England's hepatitis C commissioning policy.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has made new therapies available, as part of an early access scheme, for treatment of hepatitis C in patients who have been confirmed as having liver cirrhosis. All patients meeting the clinical criteria – including those from the South Asian community – will now have access to these treatments.   The new therapies available are described in the policy “Clinical Commissioning Policy Statement: Treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis” which has been published on the NHS England website and can be accessed via this link:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/blood-and-infection-group-f/f04/   A number of drugs are being made available to eligible patients in advance of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisals which otherwise would mean patients with cirrhosis waiting longer for access to these treatments.

Hepatitis: Ethnic Groups

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS is taking to improve hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment rates among the South Asian community.

Jane Ellison: A number of activities are being undertaken by commissioners and providers across the National Health Service and in collaboration with other stakeholders to improve diagnosis and treatment rates among the South Asian Community. These include:   - A Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Certificate in the Detection, Diagnosis and Management of Hepatitis B and C in Primary Care has been developed to help raise awareness in primary care and among other professionals working with groups at high risk of chronic viral hepatitis infection;   - A dedicated NHS Choices webpage to raise awareness and encourage testing in the South Asian community at: http://www.nhs.uk/hepatitisc/southasian/Pages/default.aspx   - A National Institute of Health Research funded programme to study the best ways to test and treat patients born outside the United Kingdom who are at risk of viral hepatitis which is actively recruiting people in Bradford and East London from the South Asian communities to optimise diagnosis and treatment in this group; and   - A range of partnerships, such as the Hepatitis C Coalition which brings together key stakeholders, including NHS England to address issues in specific communities such as those in the South Asian community;   In addition, resources have been produced by NHS England Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Action on understanding and addressing the barriers to testing and accessing treatment in the South Asian community.

Cancer: Drugs

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the prioritisation process for treatments on the National Cancer Drugs Fund list will take place in 2015-16.

George Freeman: The Cancer Drugs Fund panel considered a number of drug/indications for reprioritisation in July 2015. The panel’s decisions were announced on 4 September 2015 and are available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/cdf-drug-sum/

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust: Mental Health Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust region were required to travel outside of their trust area to receive emergency mental health treatment for each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available in the format requested.

Home Care Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment teams operating in England and Wales offer 24-hour home visits seven days a week.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many psychiatric wards in England exceed (a) 85, (b) 90 and (c) 95 per cent occupancy rates.

Alistair Burt: This information is not held centrally.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the independent report entitled Qualitative Assessment of Visitor and Migrant use of the NHS in England: Observations from the Front-Line, which was commissioned by his Department and published on 22 October 2013, what steps he has taken in response to the concerns about the application process for European Health Insurance Cards raised in that report; and when he was first informed about such concerns.

Alistair Burt: The Department takes any allegations of fraud and abuse seriously and has been working with the National Health Service on an ongoing basis to detect and tackle any suspected fraud and error since the introduction of the online European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) application system in 2006.   The Department is tightening up procedures for issuing EHICs and checking EHIC claims to the United Kingdom.   The Department is already undertaking a major piece of work to examine and identify areas for improvement in all the administrative systems relating to European Economic Area healthcare payments, including the EHIC. The Department expects to complete this work by the end of the year.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Performance Standards

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England will continue to record and monitor weekly A&E performance following the decision to publish only monthly data.

Jane Ellison: NHS England, based on the clinical advice of its Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh, no longer collects weekly data on accident and emergency performance. These data are now collected and published monthly by NHS England.

NHS: Information Officers

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many press officers are employed by the NHS.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.   To gather this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Cancer: Drugs

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2015 to Question 3177, on the Cancer Drugs Fund, whether it is still his policy to continue to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

George Freeman: The Government remains committed to continuing to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund and this year £340 million has been provided so people in England get the cancer drugs they need.